Grayslake woman charged with vote fraud

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Updated: April 19, 2011 12:25AM

CHICAGO — An illegal immigrant from the Philippines was arrested Thursday and charged with 17 counts of voter fraud for allegedly voting in Lake County elections since 2003.

Maria Azada, 53, of Grayslake, faces 17 felony counts of perjury, mutilation of election materials and tampering with voting machines in connection with illegal voting by a non-U.S. citizen, according to the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement.

Gary Hartwig, special agent in charge of ICE Homeland Security investigations in Chicago, said ICE will “aggressively investigate and bring to justice anyone who falsely claims to be a U.S. citizen so they can illegally vote.”

The investigation began in February 2009 when Azada allegedly admitted to an ICE officer during an interview for an immigration benefit that she had voted, authorities said. It is illegal for foreign nationals to vote.

The investigation revealed Azada voted nine times in primary, general and consolidated elections between 2003 and 2009, authorities said. According to the arrest warrant, she falsely claimed to be a U.S. citizen on two Illinois voter registration applications.

If convicted, Azada faces up to five years in state prison on each of two perjury counts, up to three years on each of the six counts of tampering and nine counts of mutilation of election materials.